Tag remarker



July 5, 1938. c. A. FLOOD TAG REMARKER Filed Feb. 15, 1937 2 sheets-Snead July 5, 1938. c. A. FLOOD 2,122,412

TAG REMARKER Filed Feb. 15, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ifzvertlorr QITZ 1 700% 5/ Patented July 5, 1938 TAG REMARKER Carl A. Flood, Framingham, Mass, assignor to Dennison Manufacturing Company, Framingham, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 15, 1937, Serial No. 125,787

18 Claims.

2,014,727 granted September 17, 1935. The objects of the present invention are similar to those set forth in the aforesaid patent and also to improve the construction and operation of devices of this kind, particularly to accommodate tags of different widths, to print at any desired location transversely of the tag, quickly and conveniently to adjust the position of the tags transversely of the printing head, to print simultaneously on two portions of a tag, quickly and conveniently to change the position of the two printings relatively to each other, to accommodate printing heads of different kinds, to remove and interchange printing heads with facility, readily to reset the type in the printing head or heads without removing the heads from their holder or shifting their position in their .holder and to secure a greater printing pressure in response to the application of a given manual force.

For the purpose of illustration typical embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a top plan view of one embodiment;

Fig. 2 is afront view of the cutter;'

Fig. 3 is an end view of the cutter;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the device in printing position, with a portion shown in section;

Fig. 5 is a front View of the device in printing position;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section through the printing head and holder, also showing the platen and the cutter;

Fig. '7 is a side view similar to Fig. 4 showing the parts in non-printing open position;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged side elevation, with parts in section, of a modification, in printing position;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the printing head for the modified device shown in Fig. 8,;

Fig. 10 'is. a rear elevation of the modified printing head;

Fig. 11 is a top plan View of thev tagstop for the modified device;

Fig. 12 is an. end elevation of the modified tag stop;

Fig. 13 shows a ticket which has been remarked by the modified device shown in Figs. 8 to 12; and

Fig. 14 shows a tag which has been remarked with the device shown in Figs. 1 to 7.

The particular embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 7 comprises two sheet metal handle portions I and 2 pivoted together at 3. In advance 'of the pivot '3 the handle 2 has portions 4 bent outwardly at right angles and portions 5 bent forwardly at right angles. The inking pad holder 6 is pivotally mounted at I on the upper forward ends of the portions 5 and the platen holder 8, carrying rubber platen 23, is mounted on the lower forward ends of the portions 5 by means of screws 9, the portions 5 being bent to provide recesses for the ends of the platen holder 8 as shown in Fig. 5.

The printing-head holder l0 comprises a U- shaped sheet metal part having an upper bridge portion provided with a slot H and depending legs I2 pivotally mounted on the portions 5 at E3. As shown at M in Figs. 3, '1 and 8 the legs l2 have shoulders at their upper rear edges to seat against the forward faces of the portions 4 of the handle 2 to limit the opening movement of the handles in response to the spring 15.

Each of the printing heads carried by the holder Ill comprises a U-shaped frame composed of a top bridge piece 15 and end legs l6 secured to the top piece l5 by rivets H, the legs l5 being interconnected by integral portions I8 (Fig. 6). The cylindrical core IQ of each printing head spans the space between the legs l6 and is secured thereto by taper-pins 20. The type rings 2| rotate around the core i9 and are held in adjusted position by spring pressed-plungers 22 seating in notches in the inner periphery of the rings. The printing heads are mounted on the holder Ill by means of screws 23 which extend through theslot H and thread into the top 15 of the printing head. By loosening the screws 23 the printing heads may be adjusted transversely of the device along the slot II.

The printing heads are moved toward and from the platen 23 by means of toggle mechanism including two links 24 and 25 pivoted together at 26. The rear end of link 24 is pivoted to the rear end of the handle 2 at 21 and near its forward end the link 24 is provided with a slot 28 to receive a roller 29 carried by a bolt 30 eX- tending through upstanding ears 3| on opposite sides of the handle I. The forward end of the link 25 is pivotally attached to the printing-head holder H) by means of a bracket 32 secured to 2. depending flange 33 at the rear of the printing holder. The link 25 comprises a forward portion threading into a rearward portion to adjust the length of the link, with a lock-nut 34 (Figs. 4 and 7) to hold the parts tightly together. The rear link 24 is provided with a protuberance 35 which seats against the inner face of the handle 2 to limit the movement of the handles I and 2 toward each other.

As shown in Fig. 8 the inking pad 36 is carried on the holder 6 by means of two sheet metal plates 31 and 38 between which the pad is clamped by means of screws 39. In the normal use of the device the inking pad swings from the inking position shown in Fig. '7 to the retracted position shown in Figs. 4 and 8. To swing the pad to retracted position as the handles l and 2 move together the holder 6 is provided with rollers 45 journaled on pins 4| extending inwardly from the sides of the holder, the rollers 4?} bearing on the curved forward edges 32 of the legs of the printing holder it]. Thus the edges 42 serve as cams to throw the inking pad to retracted position as the printing head moves toward the platen, the rollers Ml being held against the cam edges by means of springs 43 which are connected at their forward ends to the pins ti by means of links 44 and which are anchored at their rearward ends to the portions of the handle 2. To permit access to the printing wheels for resetting the type the inking pad may be swung from the full-line position to the dotted-line position (Fig: 8), and in so swinging the pad holder the springs 43 pass dead-center position so as to retain the pad holder in elevated position. The upward movement of the pad holder is limited by sleeves 46 on pins 4!, these sleeves engaging the forward upper edges of the handle portions 5 as indicated at 4'! in 8.

The tag guiding means comprises a U-shaped member 48 which straddles the side pieces 5 and is held thereto by the same screws 9 which retain the platen holder in position. As shown in Figs. 4 and 8 the cross-bar 48 has its forward and rearward edges bent upwardly somewhat to provide a shallow channel on its upper side. is also provided with longitudinal slots to receive the screws 49. Each of the guides for uiding the tag into printing position comprises a bottom portion 50 shaped to fit into the channel-shaped part 88 (Fig. 8) and having a threaded opening to receive the screw it. Extending upwardly from the forward end of the bottom 50 are outer and inner side parts 5| and 52. The inner part 52 extends upwardly to the level of the upper su"- face of the platen holder 8 so that its upper edge constitutes a guide for the lower surface of the .tag. The outer part 5| extends above the level of the tag and has an inturned top portion 53 which serves as a guide for the upper surface of the tag. As'shown in Fig. 8 the inturned upper guide 53 preferably does not extend forwardly (to the left of Fig. 8) as far as does the upper surface of the lower guide 52, to facilitate the insertionof the tag. The upstanding outer parts 5! of the guides not only serve to carry the top guides 53 but they also serve to restrict lateral movement of the tag by engagement with the lateral edges of the tag. By loosening the screws ie the guides may be adjusted lengthwise of the bar 48, the screws 49 sliding in the slots in the bar.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the cutter 55 for severing the end of the tag comprises U-shaped member having a cross-bar 56 carrying a sloping cutting edge 51 and rearwardly extending end arms 58 for pivotally mounting the cutter on the same pivots i3 which carry the printinghead holder. The legs l2 of the printing-head holder and the arms 58 of the cutter are provided with interengaging shoulders at 59 (Figs. 4. and 8) to interlock the two parts against movement relative to each other, whereby the cutter and the printing-head holder oscillate as a unit about the pivots l3. The portion 55 of thecutter beneath the cutting edge 5? lies in the path of the tag when the parts are in the open position shown in Fig. 7. Thus the portion 56 of the cutter serves as a stop for the tag when the latter is inserted into the device, and in order for the portion 56 to continue to position the tag as the printer moves toward the platen the surface 55 is vertically curved about an axis coincident with the pivots l3 (Fig. 4). The upper surface of the cutter is provided with a recess 88 (Fig. 2) to facilitate removal of the printing heads forwardly over the cutter.

In using the device of Figs. 1 to 'l to remark a tag 60 having two sets of indicia separated by perforations 90 and a score line 9!, the tag guides 50-53 are adjusted lengthwise of the bar 48 to the width of the tag and the printing heads are adjusted on the printing-head holder to print at the desired locations on the two sections of the double tag, the tag is then inserted between the guides 5053 until it engages the surface 56 of the cutter and the handles I and 2 are then squeezed together. As the printing head moves toward the platen the end Bl of the tag (carrying the old price mark) is first cut off and then when the printing head reaches the ticket the new price is printed in two locations as shown at 62 in Fig. 14. By virtue of the toggle mechanism 2425 the first part of the closing movement is rapid and then when. the printer reaches the ticket heavy pressure may be applied with slight force as the toggle approaches dead center.

In some cases it is desirable not to cut off the old price mark but instead merely to print a line through it as illustrated in Fig. 13 where the ticket has been remarked twice. To accomplish this result the device is modified as illustrated in Figs. 9 to 12. The cutter shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is removed and each printing-head frame is provided with a line marker (Figs. 9 and 10) on the tower end of a downwardly curved extension H integrally connected with the cross piece I 8 of the printing-head frame, the marker 1i! being thus positioned to draw a iine through the old price mark simultaneously with the apous mark on the tag is invalidated not by cutting off the old mark as in Figs. 1 to 7 but by printing a line across the old mark.

When the cutter is thus removed a tag stop, to limit the insertion of a tag, is substituted for the cutter. As shown in Figs. 8, 11 and 12 this tag stop comprises a frame member including a base plate 12 having lateral portions 13 bent upwardly at right angles and rearwardly extending ears T4 bent rearwardly at right angles from the outer ends ofthe portions 13. The base plate also has central forward and rearward extensions l5 and 16. The central portion of the plate 12 has a slot with circular counter-bored enlarge ments 1'! extending partially through the plate from the top, one at each end of. the slot and one in the middle. Beneath the plate 32 is an auxiliary plate 18 having at its forward end upturned curved lips 19 and at its rearward end short upturned tabs 80 which straddle the rearward extension 16 of the plate 12. The plates 12 and M are held together by a bolt 8| having its head seating in one of the enlargements H of the slot in plate 12 and having its nut 83 recessed to hold a spring 84 which yieldingly presses the auxiliary plate 18 upwardly against the bottom of the plate l2. The upwardly extending lips 19 are curved as shown in Fig. 8 so as to remain substantially in contact with the forward edge of the tag, without pushing on the tag, as the part-s move from open to closed position. By pressing up wardly on the nut 8| the head of the bolt may be shifted from one of the three positions to another, thereby to vary the extent to which a tag may be inserted into the device. For example, the plate 18, carrying lips 19, may be placed in forward position-to remark tags the first time, then shifted to middle position for remarking tags a second time and then shifted to the rear position for remarking tags a third time. The plate 12 is so shaped that the portions 13 seat against the. same shoulders 59 of the printer holder as the cutter in the first embodiment.

A stylus 92 may be held in the handle I by means of the curved end 93 of the spring l5 (-Figs. 4 and 7) for resetting the type wheels. To=reset the wheels the ink-pad holder is swung upto the dotted-line position shown in Fig-8 to give ready access to the wheels Without removing the printing units from the device.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this'invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for marking tags comprising a pair of holders kinematically interconnected for relative movement toward and from each other with a space therebetween to receive a tag, a printer and a platen disposed on said holders respectively on opposite sides of said space, and a transversely adjustable guide for engagement with the top, bottom and edge of a tag to guide the tag into printing position.

2. A device for marking tags comprising a pair of holders kinematically interconnected for relative movement toward and from each other with a space therebetween to receive a tag, a printer and a platen disposed cn-said holders on opposite sides of said space respectively, and a U-shaped tag guide having a short leg for engagement with one side of the tag and a long leg for engagement with the edge and other side of the tag.

3. A device for marking tags comprising a pair of holders kinematically interconnected for relative movement toward and from each other with a space therebetween to receive a tag, a printer and a platen disposed on said holders respectively on opposite sides of. said space, a pair of handles pivoted together, and toggle means comprising two links pivoted together and to said handles and one of said holders.

4. A device for marking tags comprising a pair of holders pivotally interconnected for relative movement toward and from each other with a space therebetween to receive a tag, a printer and a platen disposed on said holders respectively on opposite sides of said space, a pair of handles pivoted together, one of said handles being fast to one-of said holders, and toggle mechanism for kinematically interconnecting the other handle with the otherholder.

5. A device for marking tags comprising a pair of holders kinematically interconnected for relative movement toward and from each other with a space therebetween to receive a tag, a printer and a platen disposed on said holders respectively on opposite sides of said space, a pair of handles kinomatically interconnected with said holders, moans movably mounted on one holder for inking the printer and a cam on the other holder for moving said means when the handles are moved relatively to each other.

6. A device for marking tags comprising a pair of, holders kinematically interconnected for relative movement toward and from each other with a space therebetween to receive a tag, a printer and a platen disposed on said holders respectively on opposite sides of said space, inking means pivoted on the platen holder, a spring urging said means toward said printer, and a cam on the printer holder counteracting the spring, said means being movable about its pivot past a deadcenter position beyond which the spring holds it in inactive retracted position.

'7. A device for marking tags comprising a pair of holders kinematically interconnected for relative movement about a pivotal axis toward and from each other with a space therebetween to receive a tag, a printer and a platen disposed on said holders respectively on opposite sides of said space, and a cutter attached to one of said holders for arcuate movement about said axis for severing the end of a tag, the cutter having a stop surface concentric with said axis for positioning a tag while the cutter advances toward the tag.

8. A device for marking tags comprising a pair of holders kinematically interconnected for relative movement about a pivotal axis toward and 'from each other with a space therebetween to receive a tag, a printer and a platen disposed on said holders respectively on opposite sides of said space, and a tag stop attached to one of said holders for arcuate movement about said axis.

9. A hand device for remarking a tag comprising a pair of handles movable toward and from each other about a pivotal axis, holding means fast to the forward end of one handle and projecting laterally therefrom, printer and platen parts disposed on said means, one of said parts being fast to said holding means and the other of said parts being movable relatively to the holding means, invalidating means behind said platen part for rendering ineffective a previous mark on the tag, means behind said invalidating means for determining the path of the movable part relatively to the holding means, and actuating means associated with said movable part and said other handle for impelling the movable part toward said other part when the handles are squeezed together.

10. A hand device for remarking a tag comprising a pair of handles movable toward and from each other about a pivotal axis, holding means fast to the forward end of one handle and projecting laterally therefrom, printer and platen parts disposed on said means, one of said parts being fast to said holding means and the other of said parts being movable relatively to the hold ing means, means for adjustably mounting the printer. part on said holding means in various positions lengthwise of theplaten part, invalidating means behind said platen part for rendering ineffective a previous mark on the tag, means behind said invalidating means for determining the path of the movable part relatively to the holding means, and actuating means associated with said movable part and said other handle for impelling the movable part toward said other part when the handles are squeezed together.

11. A hand device for remarking a tag comprising a pair of handles movable toward and from each other about a pivotal axis, holding means fast to the forward end of one handle and projecting laterally therefrom, printer and platen parts disposed on said means, one of said parts being fast to said holding means and'the other of said parts being movable relatively to the holding means, guide means for guiding a tag into the device, the printer part and guide means being correspondingly adjustable lengthwise of the platen part, invalidating means behind said platen part for rendering ineffective a previous mark on the tag, means behind said invalidating means for determining the path of the movable part relatively to the holding means, and actuating means associated with said movable part and said other handle for impelling the movable part toward said other part when the handles are squeezed together.

' 12. A hand device for remarking a tag comprising a pair of handles movable toward and from each other about a pivotal axis, holding means fast to the forward end of one handle and projecting laterally therefrom, printer and platen parts disposed on said means, one of said parts being fast to said holding means and the other of said parts being movable relatively to the holding means, the printer part including a U-shaped holder and a plurality of type wheels mounted between the legs of the holder, means for adjustably mounting the base of the U-shaped holder on the holding means, invalidating means behind said platen part for rendering ineffective a previous mark on the tag, means behind said invalidating means for determining the path of the movable part relatively to the holding means, and actuating means associated with said movable part and said other handle for impelling the movable part toward said other part when the handles are squeezed together.

13. A hand device for remarking a tag comprising a pair of handles movable toward and from each other about a pivotal axis, holding means fast to the forward end of one handle and projecting laterally therefrom, printer and platen parts disposed on said means, one of said parts being fast to said holding means and the other of said parts being movable relatively to the holding means, the printer including a holder and a plurality of type, the holder and type being removable as a unitary assemblage, invalidating means behind said platen part for rendering ineffective a previous mark on the tag, means behind said invalidating means for determining the path of the movable part relatively to the holding means, and actuating means associated with said movable part and said other handle for impelling the movable part toward said other part when the handles are squeezed together.

14. A hand device for remarking a tag comprising a pair of handles movable toward and from each other about a pivotal axis, holding means fast to the forward end of one handle, printer and platen parts associated with said means, one of said parts being fast to said holding means and the other of said parts being movable relatively to the holding means, invalidating means behind said platen part for rendering ineffective a previous mark on the tag, means behind said invalidating means for determining the path of movement of the movable part relatively to the holding means, and actuating means associated with said movable part and said other handle for impelling the movable part toward said other part when the handles are squeezed together.

15. A hand device for remarking a tag comprising a pair of handles movable toward and from each other about a pivotal axis, holding means fast to the forward end of one handle, printer and platen parts associated with said means, one of said parts being fast to said holding means and the other of said parts being movable relatively to the holding means, means for adjustably mounting the printer part on said holding means in various positions lengthwise of the platen part, invalidating means behind said platen part for rendering ineffective a previous mark on the tag, means behind said invalidating means for determining the path of movement of the movable part relatively to the holding means, and actuating means associated with said movable part and said other handle for impelling the movable part toward said other part when the handles are squeezed together.

16. A hand device for remarking a tag comprising a pair of handles movable toward and from each other about a pivotal axis, holding means fast to the forward end of one handle, printer and platen parts associated with said means, one of said parts being fast to said holding means and the other of said parts being movable relatively to the holding means, guide means for guiding a tag into the device, the printer part and guide means being correspondingly adjustable lengthwise of the platen part, invalidating means behind said platen part for rendering ineffective a previous mark on the tag, means behind said invalidating means for determining the path of movement of the movable part relatively to the holding means, and actuating means associated with said movable part and said other handle for impelling the movable part toward said other part when the handles are squeezed together.

17. A hand device for remarking a tag comprising a pair of handles movable toward and from each other about a pivotal axis, holding means fast to the forward end of one handle, printer and platen parts associated with said means, one of said parts being fast to said holding means and the other of said parts being movable relatively to the holding means, the printer part including a U-shaped holder and a plurality of type wheels mounted between the legs of the holder, means for adjustably mounting the base of the U-shaped holder on the holding means, invalidating means behind said platen part for rendering ineffective a previous mark on the tag, means behind said invalidating means for determining the path of movement of the movable part relatively to the holding means, and actuating means associated with said movable part and said other handle for impelling the movable part toward said other part when the handles are squeezed together.

18. A hand device for remarking a tag comprising a pair of handles movable toward and from each other about a pivotal axis, holding means fast to the forward end of one handle, a printer and a platen associated with said means, the platen being fast to said holding means and the printer being movable relatively to the holding means, the printer including a holder and a plurality of type, the holder and type being removable as a unitary assemblage, invalidating means behind said platen for rendering ineffective a previous mark on the tag, means behind said invalidating means for determining the path of movement of the printer relatively to the holding means, and actuating means associated with said printer and said other handle for impelling the printer toward the platen when the handles are squeezed together.

CARL A. FLOOD. 

